Predictors of suicidal ideation among female residents in a community impacted by multiple natural disasters.

• Published in: European Psychiatry
• Main Authors: Agyapong, B., Shalaby, R., Eboreime, E., Y. W., Agyapong, V.
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press 2023
• Subjects: Abstract; Fort McMurray
• Online Access: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10479060/; https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2023.2012

INTRODUCTION: Suicidal ideation and thoughts of self-harm continue to be challenging public health problems. It’s presently unknown what the prevalence and correlates of suicidal thoughts and self-harm are in female residents of Fort McMurray, a city that has endured wildfires, flooding, and the COVID-19 pandemic in the last five years. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation and thoughts of self-harm among female residents of Fort McMurray. METHODS: A cross-sectional study using an online survey questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic and clinical information from the resident of Fort McMurray between April 24 to June 2 2021. Suicidal ideation and thoughts of self-harm among females were assessed using the ninth question of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, a validated screening tool used to assess depression symptoms. Likely Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and low resilience were measured using standardized rating scales. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 25 using Chi-Square tests and multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Among Fort McMurray residents, 249 accessed the online survey, while 186 ultimately completed it, yielding a survey completion rate of 74.7%. Of these, 159 (85%) were females. After controlling for other variables in the regression model, respondents who expressed a desire to receive mental health counselling were more than seven times more likely to report suicidal ideation and thoughts of self-harm compared to the respondents who didn’t desire to receive mental health counselling (OR: 7.29; 95% CI: 1.19 – 44.58). Similarly, respondents who reported having abused alcohol in the past year were nearly four times more likely to report suicidal ideation or thoughts of self-harm compared to the respondents who said they had not abused alcohol in the past year (OR: 3.91; 95% CI: 1.05 – 14.57). CONCLUSIONS: High prevalence of suicidal thoughts ...